Metal automobile body



E. O. SCHJOLXN METAL AUTOMOBILE BODY ZQZWLWM Filed June 19, 193'? 6 Sheets-Sheet 3%.

Marfih 1941 E. o. SCHJOLiN METAL AUTOMOBILE BODY Filed June 19, 1937 6 $heets-Sheet 2 E. o. SCHJOLIN METAL Au'rdmoBILB BODY Filed June 19, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 35 March 11, 1941. E. o. SCHJOLIN METAL AUTOMOBILE BODY Filed June 19, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Mmch E. o. SCHJOLIN METAL AUTOMOBILE BODY Filed June 19, 193'? 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 E. o. SCHJOLIN 2,234,781

METAL AUTOMOBILE BODY Filed June 19, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet s mme. 11, 19 I 2,234,781

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METAL AUTOMOBILE BOB]! Erie Olle Sehjolln, Puntltw, Mich, asslznor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a I corporation of Delaware Application June, 19, 1937, Serial No. 149,17t

21 Clalme. (m. tee-eel This invention relates to metal automobile indicated at M, the trout 'seet sat lll, enel the hedles eml ls an improvement over the metal rear seat ht M. The tell of the vehlele hes the hotly described and claimed in my copendlne windows 2t while the sides tn the reel" lllf the ehpllcatlon Serial No. 41,062, filed September 18, rear (more It have the wlndows M. The tllvltletl It ltlllh. wlnclshlelel ls lmlleeted et Flt, the h'eht Wheels at tl The invention relates to specific improvements 3? and the reel' Wheels et tt. ll tlesltesl, the l'tltll' I in structural rletells of the automobile, ertleuwheele met he eeveretl he the temevehle lately the head el" front part, the hem, ehtl the The rem lehtlers ere lhelleetett et reel" pert hetween the wheel housings. The hotly The hunt lehtlet'e lhtlleetetl et tll ell-tel the l W ls hu'llt es en lhteel'hl unit and l'equh'es he ehesheetllemhs ext th, the heetllmhhs helhe metlhtetl M sls. It is e sell-sustelhme entity and cllhers h'em n the tenders till. heeh lehtlee hes e resconventional hetlles in that the pert ()I'fllllhlllit' temeulet h ehlhe t l lll' the :h'ent pert theteel' lh eehsleletetl the heetl ls formed as e tlglel pert et Whleh there metmtetl the tzl'llle lll, eeeh ellle the hotly. hmrlh e, smell t'etllhtel" in lee-eh thereelf. The mg ltl Uh the tlrewlngs heetl t hes the hese tlt eettehellhe :lehvhttllt' he Figure l View of the hotly es e whele. tween the tehtlel't hllfl else the lltl hlheetl "Meme 2 is en expehtletl VlEW el the heetl et at lts ehtl e at, end heme etlehtetl tehe frent ef the heelt'. eweeetl te ellew eetess he the h'eht theme 3 ls lehelthtllnel seetlehel View l whleh ls heetl tn etere the through the mieltlle ml the heels, the heed entl tell themes. The eewl ll l'htltletl v elf the hetlyhehlhht'eleeh ewem et lte .l'rhht the with thlthhle telehsehle Figures e and tllt'h tletelletl Views @311 the llhes eeteh. t t and lt-h ht l teme l leure t3 ls e lshelttullhel seetlehel :letelleel view of the tell he :reel' ehtl hot the vehlele.

t that ere seetlehel tletetletl mews eh e hwetclly lhellheel ehtl the thelh1esl--l ehtl elf l lehre 6. epehlhe l whleh therels esltlehetl pres Figure 3] ls e seetlehel leh 'l'lhllt' theeueh the state ."l-ellel/hm ht tllehhmem l ht the heeetehen en the llhe t--t hf ll 'leute' type tles l hhtl he my ehehtlehetl h m 39 Figure he is e seetlehel View en the 11m? lll -lll pllchtlhh h the; mete, hletl e l-e ell, mm. W

of l leurte the W t eme ll, it "will he hetet' 'htt the tel letle'e th l'eeeh/e tl" (the .shtehll 0t eewl l ls Figure ll. is e eeetlehel lletelleel vlewshetvlhe' end then hes the lhtvestll lhellhetl pert )thleh the manner ill Whleh the lewel" ehtl of the mate lelhe eleh llhe tvlth the tee heet'tl see is seeuretl tethevehlele hem", theme ll eletttlletl tleeerl tleh el the Figure 12 is en emer ed se tm lm phlttglll 'lte etlleeeht structure ls lglll-llll et Wt thteueh the epehlhe" ht Wlth the ,tllehhthem the that elf the s eelllehtleh.

shown in clettecl lines in we at lts e el'etlte enter l'esweetlmest pert ht eeeh sltle el pesitiehsthe metal eh lhtvsttlhr tllteetetl wheel hemse Figure 13 is en ehlereetl vlew lh elevetleh el pert :leemetl therelhn the wheel heuse lllllt the stmetul'e el hleh e l2. ehels ht the lhaes lhtlleetetl slt 'lt end there ls tll Figure 14 is e seetleheleletell ml the line l l- -ll l Weleletl et the llhe "M e. leee l t the letter edge of h'lgure l3. lt elf Whleh ls tieltletl th the s'lll lit hit the heely;

Figures 15 enel lit the detslleel vlews thehlhe The tetwettl etlee el the leee lt ls lnwettlly the manner in whleh the diaphragm it eesltle enl tleheetl ttll ht the hahee ht forming at eeh due to internal or external air pressure. tmuetleh el" the llet M at each slde ht the eewlu 011 the drawlhes the numeral l indicates the The latent el't t eemprlses the muse hevln'e vehicle as a Whole. The vehicle has the metel the lhteerel letetellt extending sides W, the reel" mp ll, the tail er rear pert t, the the heesl er emls ht "which have the lhtumeel flenees tt from part t. The rear doors ere tncltested et which mete Wlth the hats ht on the eewl title.

" w lt, the frent deem-s at 2, each deer hsvlhe e, win- The letrer or hettem eflee tt ml the slcles ill ls W claw lt wl'lleh ls mlsehleend lewemhle in "the ercuete er curved ehtl fm'ms e centlnuetlem el' usual way The rear doers ere hlhgeel tn the the em've shewn et ll'l on the upper edge of the rear hoclypiller by the hinges at et lt, while the wheel heuse pert W. The curve 3t extends fer- :lront door l2 is attached to the front plller by wel'clly te the end of the nose end termlnates 55 means at the hinges I8. The eleer hehtlles me at tt. ht leech elde ol the hose there it all emuate section or wing 96 which conforms in curvature to the front rounded end 92 of the fenders 46-.

To the flange 94 formed at the lower edge of the arcuate part 89 there is secured the inner wheel house member 96 which is of a shape best shown in Figure 2. The rear edge of the member 96 has the inturned flang 98 which mates with the lower part of. the flat 82 on the cowl and also with the flange 86 on the piece 14, each part having mating openings so that they may be removably secured together by bolts and nuts. The lower edge of the member 96 also has the inturned flange 98' a continuation of the flange 98 and is secured by suitable bolts to the edge I66 of the pan I62 forming the bottom of the front compartment in the head 8 and a continuation of the floor of the vehicle proper. The member 96 has the additional flange part 98" which mates with the edge I64 and is secured thereto by bolts. The front part of the element 96 is inwardly bent on the line I66 and at the edge of the inwardly bent part there is the flange I68 provided with suitable openings and adapted to be attached to the plate II6 fixed at its ends to the flange 94 on the edge of the parts 84 and 96. An additional short arcuate plate I I2 is secured to the flange 94 and to the plate H6 and fills in the space between the plate H6 and the edge of the arcuate section 96.

Referring to the fenders 46 at the opening 44 it will be noted that the edge is inwardly flanged on three sides as indicated at II4, each flange having suitable openings,. the purpose of which is to fasten the grille 46 in place. At the outermost part of the opening there is secured a plate II6 which extends inwardly of the fender and which has a tab '8 formed thereon. The upper flange also has a tab I26 and these tabs as Well as the tab or tongue I22 at the upper part of the plate IIO are for the purpose of securing in place the radiators I26, each radiator comprising the core I24 and the side tanks I28 and I36. I

The radiators I26 are very small when compared to the ordinary radiator. The radiator at one side has the water opening I32 which receives the hot water from the engine coming'from the pipe I38, the water flowing into the tank I28 and through the core I24 to the tank I36 at the opposite side. From the tank I36 the water flows through a pipe (not shown) to the radiator I26 at the opposite side and enters the tank at the outermost side of the vehicle. The water flows through the second radiator to the tank at the other side and then through a tube (not shown)' passing through the opening I36, the water then being delivered to the return pipe I46 to be taken by the water pump and recirculated through the engine. The radiators I26 are rigidly held in position in the openings 44 between the plate M6 on one side and the plate H6 on the other, the tabs II8, I26, and I22 being used to apply suitable fastening means. For a disclosure of the cooling system see my copending application Serial No. 85,842, filed June 18, 1936, now Patent #2,1l7,040.

The inner edge of each fender 46 is provided with a flange I 42 and the lower inward edge of the opening 44 has the flange I44 by means of which the fender is secured to the flange 94 and to the curved edge 8! of the wheelhouse part I6.

Preferably the parts shown in expanded relation in Figure 2 ahead of the cowl 54 and under the lid 56 are removably secured in place by means of suitable bolts and nuts. They are preferably made removable so that incase of accident in which the front part of the vehicle is damaged, all the parts may be separated and new parts applied without necessitating the replacement of the entire vehicle body.

In Figure 11 the lower part I46 of the nose is shown assecured to the forwardmost edge I48 of the pan I62 by means of the bolts and nuts I56.

Referring to. Figure 3, the inside of the cowl at each side has the reinforcing structure I52 similar to the reinforcing structure shown in my copending application Serial No. 41,062. Over this reinforcing structure the outer skin is applied, the reinforcing structure and skin forming the front door pillar I54. This pillar I54 is fabricated substantially as that shown in my copend- Ing application and extends upwardly at the side of the windshield where it is inclined as shown at I56. .The post structure then extends upwardly over the front and rear doors as at I58=and then is inclined rearwardly as at I66 to form the rear door pillar and then downwardly as at I62 to the side sill I8 where it is rigidly secured. The front posts at I56 are hollow and each has secured therein by welding at substantially the point I64 the flattened end of a tube I 66, the lower end of which is welded as at I68 to the inclined part 64 of the cowl pan 58. Under the part 64 other tubes I69 are welded, one tube in line with and forming a continuation of each tube I66. The lower end'of the tubes I68 are welded to the side sill and to the semi-cylinders I'I6 (see Figure 9) which are secured to the forward end of each side sill and are adapted to fit against front axle H2. The tubes I66 and I69 therefore form a continuation of the inclined part I56 of the front door pillar and form a bracing means for the body. The middle door pillar is indicated at I14.

The side sills I8 and lower part of the body are best shown in Figures 3 and 9. The side sills as shown in Figure 10 comprise the outer U-shaped channel I86 and the inner 'U-shaped channel I82 which are welded together at their mating flanges to form a box-sectioned construction. At the front of the body the channels I82 leave the channels i 86 (see Figure 9) and unite at the middle of the vehicle where they are secured to transverse reinforcing members I83, secured at their outer ends to the sills I8 and their inner ends to the place of connection of the channels I82. Over the channel I66 the outer skin I64 is secured to form the bottom door jamb I86 at its upper edge. Between the side sills I8 the bottom or floor structure comprises the transverse members or connectors I88, I96, I92, I94, and I96. The front transverse mem ber I88 is preferably a U-shaped channel as is best shown in Figure 3. The intermediate members I96, I 94, and I96 are preferably U-shaped and have laterally turned flanges I96, these members being best shown in detail in Figure 5. The U-shaped flanges I98 are interconnected by the top covering plate 266 which has the inwardly bent flanges 262 which underlap the flanges I98 and form with the transverse member I96 a boxsectioned construction. The intermediate member I92 at the center of the vehicle and below the center door pillars H4 is shown in detail in Figure 4 and comprises the bottom plate 264, the top plate 266, and the side channels 268 and 2I6. The channels 268 and 2I6 have their webs facing each other and are secured together at their flanges by means of the plates 264, 266, the-parts being seemed together by welding. All

answer 3 or the transverse members Ill-I88 inclusive are secured at their ends by welding to the side sills I8.

v The bottom of the sills and transverse memhers is closed by the bottom plate 212, the plate closing the entire bottom of the vehicle from the front axle I12 to the rear axle 2. The plate 2I2 is preferably welded to the sills and cross members, but may be removably secured in place. Where the side sills meet the rear axle 2 as shown in Figure 8, the sills have welded thereto the semi-cylindrical members 2I8 which fit against the axle 2H. Each of the transverse members I88, I88, I82,

I94, and I88 is provided along its length with suitable openings for the passage of the water pipes or tubes I38 and. I48, which extend from the rear of the vehicle to the front to transfer the water from the engine (which is positioned to the rear of the vehicle) to the radiators. The transverse members are also provided with open lugs for the passage of the gasoline tube 2" (connected to the fuel tank 2l8 at 223), the tube 228 for the speedometer cable, the tubes 222 and 224 to operate the clutch and brake pedals,

and the tube 228 for the electric wiring. If desired, the transverse members may also be provided with suitable openings 228 to lighten the construction. 1

Over the side sills l8 and the transverse mem-- bers I88-I88 inclusive there is placed the floor pan 238 which is removably secured to the sills and transverse members by means of the screws 232 as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The floor pan 238 may comprise as many sections as desired in order that any section thereof may be removable to allow access to the passage or conduits between the lower pan 2I2 and the floor pan or plate 288. Preferably the plate 288 in Figure 5 has a boss 224 underneath having a threaded opening in which the screw 232 is received; and the inturned flange 238 on the plate 286 has a boss 238 secured thereto, the boss having a threaded opening into which the screw 232 is turned. By loosening the screws 282 the floor plate or any section thereof may be removed.

.The structure of the roof 4 and its transverse. bracing members 238 is the same as that shown and described in mylcopending application Serial No. 41,062. Similarly, the structure of the heador 238 is the same.

At the rear of the vehicle the inside is provided with the reinforcing member 288 and there is also the rear window frame 282, these parts in general being the same as that shown in my copending application. 7

At the rear of the vehicle-there are provided the inwardly extending wheelhouses 2, there being one wheelhouse member at each side. of the vehicle. The outer skin Ill of the vehicle is suitably shaped on the are 248 to receive the wheelhouse. The skinis inwardly flanged as at 258 (Figure 7) and the inner wheelhouse element 2 is secured to the skin at the flange 288. The rear fenders 88 are flanged as at 282, the

, flanges mating with the flanges 288 so that the parts 38, 2M, and skin. I88 are secured together by the bolts and nuts 2. I

Extending across the vehicle at the rear of the rear post I62 there is the arcuate pan 288, at the lateral edges of which it is secured at the are 248 to the wheelhouses 248 and to the outer skin I88. This arcuate plate 258 extends from the sills of the vehicle upwardly and rearwardly and terminates along the line indicated at 288 a little at the rear of a vertical plane passing through the rear rule 2". The rear edgeoi the plate is here provided with a small upturned flange 288 over which there fits a U-shaped flanged end 282 of a second arcuate plate 281 which extends on a reverse curve upwardly and i rearwardly and is secured at 288 to the inwardly extending flange 288 formed around.- the edge of the opening for the rear trap door 218. Prelerably the plate 288 is made removable and divided at the middle to form it in two sections. The arcuate pan 288 forms a support for the back of the rear seat 22. p

The side roof rail 212 of the vehicle terminates at 214 shown in Figures 3 and 6, and a tube 218 forms a continuation thereof and has its end flattenedas at 218 and welded to the rear wheelhouse 244, there being one tube at each side oi! the vehicle.

The lower edge of the tail 8 of the vehicle is reinforced at each side by means of the channel element 288, this element being best shown in section in Figures '1 and 8, and being secured on the inside of the inner wheelhouse member 244. The channel member 288 is welded at 282 to form a rigid construction at the lower end of the wheelhouse and tall portion. The channel members 288 are upwardly bent as at 284 to allow clearance for the oscillations of the rear drive axles which are adapted to move in the slots 288.

The inclined portion of the rear door I88 has tube 288 flattened and secured in the end of the inclined part I88. This tube extends downwardly and r'earwardly and is secured as at 288 to the semicircular element H8. The front end of the channel 288 terminates at the tube 288 and is transverse box-sectioned member 284 extends.

from side to side of the vehicle and is welded at its sides to the.ends of the reinforcing channel 288 and to the skin I8l.- This member 284 is provided with an opening 288 at its lower side in which there is secured a suitable mounting member to receive a ball on a frame on which the rear engine is mounted. The forward ends of the frame for the rear engine have secured thereto the send-cylindrical elements 288 which are complemental to the semi-cylindrical elements H8 and with the aid of suitable clamping U- bolts and nuts secure the rearaxle to the body and to the engine frame of the vehicle. when the engine is removed the rear axle 2H and the frame on which the engine is mounted are re moved therewith.

As'is best shown in the detailed views of Figures 1216 inclusive, the cowl pan or the dashboard 881s provided with an opening 88 of relatively large extent, or about 5" x 11'', into which there is positioned the yieldable flexible diaphragm or cover 882. The diaphragm 332 may be made of any suitablefiexible material such as a yieldable fabric or rubber and preferably is held at two of its edges, such as the narrower side edges 3 and 338, by the clamping elements 338. Each clamping element 838 comprises one member 388 substantially z -shaped in cross section and a flat member 882 between which the edges 344 and 336 of the diaphragm 332 are tightly held. The clamping elements 338 are secured to the edges of the opening 330 by means of rivets 346.

As best shown in Figure 13 the diaphragm 332 is wcured to the opening 330 at the lateral edges only and is free at the top and bottom edges as is best shown in Figures 15 and 16.

Referring to Figure 15, the position of the diaphragm is shown when the rapid closing of either door ID 01' I2, will cause a compression of air inside the body. The pressure of the air will cause the diaphragm 332 to be bowed and assume the dotted line position 332 in Figure 12 or the position shown in full lines in Figure 15. The movement of the diaphragm to the dotted line position in Figure 12 or the full line position in Figure 15 produces two long narrow slits or openings indicated at 348 in Figures 12 and 15.

One of these openings 348 will be at the top of the diaphragm 332 and the other at the bottom and are of sufficient size to allow a ready escape of air fromthe vehicle so that an easy closing of the door i2 is made possible. When the door is closed and the air has escaped gradually through the slits 348, the elasticity and flexibility of the diaphragm 332 will cause it to return to the full line position in Figure 2.

To facilitate an easy opening of the door the diaphragm 332 may be bowed in the opposite direction, or to the position shown in Figure 16. That is, when either door 10 or I2 is rapidly opened with all of the windows closed, the diaphragm 332 will flex in a direction opposite to that shown in Figure 15, or in the direction shown in Figure 16. This will allow air to enter by the narrow slits 348 as is shown by the small arrows.

I claim:

1. In a metal automobile body, a cowl having a forwardly and downwardly inclined part, a forwardly extending nose having sides having complementary edges fitting against the inclined part and rigidly secured thereto, said nose extending to the extreme forward end of the vehicle, fenders rigidly secured to the nose, one fender at each side, each fender having an opening at the front thereof, inwardly extending flanges at the edge of the opening, said flanges adapted to have grilles rigidly secured thereto, one grille for each opening.

2. In a metal automobile body, a cowl having a forwardly and downwardly inclined part, a forwardly extending nose having sides having complementary edges fitting against the inclined part and rigidly secured thereto, said nose extending to the extreme forward end of the vehicle,

fenders rigidly secured to the nose, one fender at each side, each fender having an opening at the front thereof, inwardly extending flanges at the edge of the opening, meansri'gidly to secure radiators in the openings, one radiator for each opening, and grilles secured to the fenders over the openings, one grille for each opening.

3. In a metal automobile body, a cowl having a forwardly and downwardly inclined part, a forwardly extending nose having sides having complementary edges fitting against the inclined part and rigidly secured thereto, said nose extending to the extreme forward end of the vehicle, lateral wings, one wing at each side of the tip of the nose, fenders secured to the wings and to the nose; one fender at each side of the nose, each fender having an opening at the front thereof, inwardly extending flanges at the edge of the opening, and grilles rigidly secured in the openings, one grille for each opening.

4. In a metal automobile body, a cowl having a: forwardly and downwardly inclined part, a for- .wardly extending nose having sides having complementary edges fitting against the inclined part and rigidly secured thereto, said nose extending to the extreme forwardend of the vehicle, in-

, ner wheelhouse parts secured to the nose and to the body, fenders rigidly secured to the nose and to the inner wheelhouse part, one fender at each side, each fender having an opening at the front thereof, inwardly extending flanges at the edge of the opening, and grilles rigidly secured in the openings, one grille for each opening.

5. In a metal automobile body, a cowl, a forwardly extending nose having sides fitting against the cowl and rigidly secured thereto, said nose including an inner wheelhouse part, wings at the front end of the nose, one wing at each side, plates, one plate secured to each wing, fenders, one fender secured to each side of the nose, an opening in each fender, said'openings having inturned flanges, said flanges and plates forming mounting means for a radiator, there being one small radiator at each side of the nose.

- 6. In a metal automobile body, a cowl, a forwardly extending nose having sides fitting against the cowl and rigidly secured thereto, said nose including an inner wheel house part, wings at the front end of the nose, one wing at each side, plates, one plate secured to each side, fenders, one fender secured to each side of the nose, an opening in each fender, said openings having inturned flanges, said flanges and plates forming mounting means for radiators, there being one small radiator at each side of the nose, grilles, one grille for each radiator, said grilles secured to the fenders at the edges of the openings and over the radiators.

7. In a metal automobile body having a front section projecting from the cowl to the forwardmost part of the vehicle, said front section comprising a U-shaped nose having its sides joining onto the sides of the cowl and having lateral .wings at the front end, the wings of the U-shaped nose being narrow and having their bottom edges spaced from the plane of the bottom of the vehicle, an inner wheelhouse part between the edges of the nose and the bottom of the vehicle, fenders, one fender at each side of the nose, the edges of said fenders, wheelhouse, and nose being secured together along a common line, and means to secure said wheelhouse and nose to the bottom of the vehicle.

8. In a metal automobile body having a front section projecting from the cowl to the forwardmost part of the vehicle, said front section comprising a U-shaped nose having its sides joining onto the sides of the cowl and having lateral wings at the front end, the wings of the U-shaped nose being narrow and having their bottom edges spaced from the plane of the bottom of the vehicle, an inner wheel house part between the edges of the nose and the bottom of the vehicle, fenders, one fender at each side of the nose, the edges of said fenders, wheelhouse, and nose side being secured together along a common line, and means to secure said wheelhouse and nose to the bottom of the vehicle, the front part of said fenders having openings for the reception of a radiator, each fender having one opening.

9. In a metal automobile body having side sills. a cowl, an inclined toeboard at the bottom of the cowl, a roof, front door pillars at the edge iii) oi the cowl and supporting the roof, an inclined windshield between the roof and cowl, a tube secured at its upper end inside the door pillar and extending downwardly and forwardly to the toeboard and secured thereto, a second tube secured to the toeboard under the same and forming a continuation of the-first tube, the end of the second tube being secured to the sills of the body.

10. In a metal automobile body having a top, a cowl, and side sills, a door post structure extending upwardly from the sills at the cowl and across the roof edge and downwardly at the rear of the vehicle and terminating at the sills, the forward and rearwardmost upper. parts of said structure being inclined, a tubular construction at the front and a tubular construction at the rear of the vehicle forming continuations of the inclined parts of the post structure, said tubular constructions extending from the post structure to the sills and secured to both, and an outer skin secured to the posts and to the tubular constructions.

ii. In a metal automobile body having a top, a cowl, and side sills, a door post structure extending upwardly from the sills at the cowl and across the roof edge and downwardly at the rear of the vehicle and terminating at the sills, the forward and rearwardmost upper parts of said structure being inclined, tubular constructions at the front and rear of the vehicle forming continuations of the inclined parts of the post structure, said tubular constructions extending from the post structure to the sills and secured to both, and an outer skin secured to said posts and to said rearwardmost tubular construction.

12. In a floor structure for a metal automobile body, side sills,end andintermediate box-sectioned transverse metallic connectors secured to and connecting the sills, a metal pan under the sills and connectors and secured to both, and a metal floor pan over the sillsand connectors and secured to both, said pans extending the full width of the body and said metal underpan extending the greater part of the length of the vehicle.

13. In a floor structure for a metal automobile body, two long members comprising side sills, box sectioned transverse metallic connectors secured to and forming the interconnectingmeans between the sills, said connectors including end and a plurality of intermediate members, a metal pan under the sills and connectors and secured to both, a metal fioor pan over the sills and connectors and secured to both, said connectors belag between the underpan and the. floor pan, said pans extending the full width of the body and said metal underpan extending the greater part of the length of the .body, said transverse connectors being provided with a plurality of openings, and brake operating means and clutch operating means passing through said openings from the front to the rear of the vehicle.

14. In a floor structure for a metal automobile body, side sills, and and intermediate box-sectioned transverse metallic connectors secured to and connecting the sills, a metal pan under the sills and connectors and secured to both; and a metal floor pan over the sills and connectors and. secured to both, said connectors being between the underpan and the floor pan, said pans extending the full width of the body and said metal underpan extending the greater part of the length of the body, said connectors provided with a plurality of aligned openings, and water pipes passing through said openings from the front to the rear of the vehicle.

15. In a metal body for vehicles, side sills, end and intermediate transverse connectors between the sills, said connectors secured at their ends to the sills, a bottom pan secured to the underside of the sills and connectors and extending the full width of the body and forthe greater part of its length, a floor pan on the upper side of the sills and connectors and secured thereto, said connectors being between the underpan and the floor pan, said connectors having a plurality of aligned openings, and a plurality of tubes passing through said openings.

16. In a metallic body for a wheeled automomotive vehicle, said body comprising an outer skin and side sills and cross members, a tail part extending rearwardly beyond the rear wheels, wheelhouses, one wheelhouse at each side olthe rear of the vehicle, tubular struts extending upwardly and forwardly and secured to the wheelhouses, reinforcing members, one member for each side of the body and extending forwardly from the rearmost tip of the tail part forwardly to the rear ends of the body sills and being secured to the houses at the lowermost edge thereof, the foremost ends of said reinforcing members beingsecured to said struts, and a boxsectioned transverse member connecting the rear ends of the reinforcing members and secured thereto; 1

1'7. In a metal automobile body, a rear wheelhouse at one side, a second rear wheelhouse at the other side, said wheelhouses having their upper parts extending on anarc, and a curved pan extending from onewheelhouse to the other wheelhouse inside the body and being curved on the are similar to the arc of the wheelhouses, said pan being secured at its ends to the body at the wheelhouses, said pan extending from the top of the wheelhouses to the floor of the body.

18. In a metal automobile body, a rear wheelhouse atone side, a second rear wheelhouse at the other side, said wheelhouses having their upper parts extending on an are, a curved pan extending from one wheelhouse to the other wheelhouse inside the body and being curved on the are similar to the arc of the wheelho'uses. said pan being secured at its ends to the body at the wheelhouses, said pan extending from the top of the wheelhouses to the door of the body, and a second pan secured to the wheelhouses and forming a continuation of the first pan and extending the width of the body from the top of the wheelhouses to the rear of the body and secured thereto.

19. In a metal automobile body, a rear wheelhouse at one side, a second rear wheelhouse at the other side, said wheelhouses having their upper parts extending on an arc, acurved pan extending from one wheelhouse to the other wheelhouse inside the body and being curved on the arc similar to the arc of the wheelhouses,

said pan being secured at its ends to the body at the wheelhouses, said pan extending from the top of the wheelhouses to the floor of the body,

to the wheelhouses and having its rear edge secured to the body,

20. In a body for a wheeled vehicle, a cowl, wlieelhouslugparts formed in the sides of the cowl, a forwardly extending nose having its rear edges secured to the cowl, wheelhousing parts secured to the side edges of the nose and to the cowl and forming a continuation of the wheelhousing'parts of the cowl, and fenders secured to the nose and to the cowl and concealing the wheel housing parts from exterior view.

21. In a body for a wheeled vehicle, a cowl, a pan secured to the body .at the bottom of the i0 cowl and projecting forwardly, a nose extending 

